Can-filling machine.



E. L. PRiCE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPklCA'HON FILED SEPT-11, 1911.

1,290,656. Patented M11919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\I Yllll mmw 9' 15% 9 WM 8 l w 1 M WITNESSES: INVENEOR 4 4 4 i 7 fw z%m" Arm-nuns E. L. HUGE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 11, 1917.

1,290,656; Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET INVENTOR WITNESSES:

. determined and EARL L. PRICE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-FILLING ltIACI-IINE.

menses.

Application filed September 11, 1917.

To {n46 whom it may concern:

Be it lrnownthat I, EARL L. PRICE, a sub-. ject of the Kingof England, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of .California, have invented new. and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Ma chines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for filling cans, jars, and the like with liquids, more pa-rticularl to a valve by which the filling operation 18 controlled.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide asimple, compact filling machine of the continuous rotary type; whereby cans containing fruit or like nun. terial to be preserved may be filled to a prelevel with syrup or other liquid,

and also to prowithout waste or dripping;

valves to permlt vide a plurality of charging the machine to operate simultaneously upon a number of cans as they are passing through 1 the machine. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of automatic;

charging valve which will permit each can to be rapidly and uniformly filled and which will simultaneously permit a perfect venting or removal of air while the filling operation is taking place. Further objects will hereinaiter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an enlarged, central, vertical section through one of the charging valves.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of' different parts of the valve shown in Fig. 1.

The construction of the syrup dispensing or charging valve 7, through which the syrup flows while the cans are being filled, is as folows:

Referring to Figs. 3, 4t, 5, and 6, 9 indicates, in general, a valve cage which is adapted to be inserted through the bottom of the tank. The loweriend of the cage is provided with a peripheral flange 10 which engages the bottom face of the tank shown in fra ment at '5 and screws 11 passing throng 1 said flange secure the cage in position when inserted;'.-the face between the Specification of Letters Patent.

' member 12 which is su Patented Serial No. 190,853.

Jan. ,7, 1919.

bottom of the tank and the flange 10 being finished to permit the formation of a tight- 01111; when insertion is made. Formed in the upper end of the cage is a central hub pported or carried by means of a plurality of arms 13, and formed In the sides of the cage is a plurality of ports or openings 14 through which syrup contained in thetank is permitted to 'fiow.

Slidably mounted interiorly of the cage is a cylindrical member 15, on the lowerend of which is secured the valve proper. This valve is constructed by forming a large flange 16 on the lower end of the cylinder and an annular shoulder 17 for the reception of a rubber gasket 18. Formed in the lower end of the cylinder 15 is an 19 and placed insaid groove is a packing annular groove.

ring 20 whichforms a. tight joint between the cylinder and the cage 9 to prevent leakage. Extending throughthe hub' 12 is a threaded hollow valve stem 21, and secured on the lower endof said stem is a head member 22 which is provided with auhollow central space 23 and an annular downwardly llprojecting flange 24. The upper face of the head member is provided with an annular seat 25 for thh reception of the valve and the lower. face, together with the flange 24, 'is

provided with a series of perforations 26 which serve ils an escape for the air'when a can is being filled.

Secured on the upper end of the valve stem 21 is a nut 27 and interposed between said nut and a, follower head 28, engaging the upper cylindrical end of the val've, is a. coil spring 29. This spring exerts its pressure upon the follower head 28 and the valve andthereby normally holds it inengagement with the annular seat 25 formed on the head 22. Discharge of syrup from the tank can only take place when the valve is raised into the position shown in Fig. 1 or when a can is in position. The construction of the sevvalve and will freely dischar e the moment it is opened. Syrup may be elivercd to the tank through ,a pipe f rom any suitable source supply-and a float valve, or any other suit- 1.-

'lowed to fill each can able means, may be provided for maintaining a constant level within the tank.

In actual operation, the can is moved into engagement with'the rubber lined face 18 of the valve. thus sealing the can. A further movement forces the valve? away from its seat 25, as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby permitsthe syrup from the tank to flow through the communicating ports ll, formed the cage, and the VtllVtiilf) in the direction of the arrows. The syrup then passes over the head 22 and the valve seat 25 and at this point discharges through the annular passage formed between the flange 24 and the upper end of the can.

The syrup onentering the can drives out the air contained and this escapes through the perforations 26 and 26 into the chamber 23 and from here passes through the hollow valve stem 21 directly to height of the stem 21 being such that it passes a considerable distance above the syrup level within the tank. Plenty of time is alsyrup or liquid dispensed to back up through the air chamber 23 and enter the tube 21.

This insures a perfect removal of all air and filling of each can as i also insures a uniform the liquid rising in the stem 21 will naturally seek the level of the contents of the tank.

The closing of the valve is accomplished when the can is lowered. This receding movement permits the spring 29 to exert its pressure on the follower head and force the valve against the seat is in this manner stopped and a perfect seal is formed between the valve and the seat 25, thus preventing lczikageor dripping at the The flow of syrup time when the can is removed.-

member is such that it enters when the .out through the valve stem The construction of the head member 22 is one of the most important features of the valve proper; that is the position of the head the can and serves as a displacing member. A can when completely filled causes the syrup to back up through the venting tube'until this level is obtained. A great portion of this syrup .would tlow back into the canthemoment the valve closes and the can recedes therefrom. This extra supply of syrup is, however,- taken care of by the head as it served as a. displacing member while in the can,

The actual operation that takes place valve is closing is first to force a part of the syrup up through tube as the valve acts as a plunger of a pump when closing down against the seat. Only a small amount of syrup is while the valve closes, but the back into't-he'can as the plunger recedes. The amount of liquid or syrup displaced by the head 22 is thus replaced by the returning liquid from the stem 21 and the chamber 23 tained when received by the head or the atmosphere, the

and'also to permitthe.

the venting dischargedor spit I arms of the hub and-bearing ma or portion of it drains.

,1 v and each can, when leaving the machine, is, therefore, practically filled and aprt-tleten mined level, so to speak, is obtained in each can regardless of the amount of fruit con the machine. desired liquid level in the can, when it. is discharged from the machine, may be varied by increasing ordecreasing the size of la; varying the size of tho venting passage E251 and theair chamber 23. The annular flange; 2* formed on the head is also of importahc'e as it permits the fruit, for instance peaches and the like, to

forced down i-nto'the can without injuring the same while the' filling operation is taking place and it also serves as a the escaping an".

I further wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to with- 4 in thescope of the appended claims and that I do not wish to limitmyself to the specific.

design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a can filling machine, a tank, a dispensing valve including acage in the tank, a central hub at the upper end ofthe cage, a valve having a stem slidable in the c e below said hub, a hollow stem secured to t e hub of the cage, a head member secured to the lower end of said hollow stem and having a horizontal hollow chamber communicating with said hollow stem, said head member having vertical perforations extending into said hollow chamber, a laterally ap- .t rap to collect- The ertured flange depending from said head in surrounding relation rations, an abutment on the upper end 0 the hollow stem, a follower head surroundto said vertical -perfo-.

ing said hollow stem and seated on the upper end of the valve stem, and a spring sur rounding the hollow stem and engaged at its ends with said abutment and follower, said cage and valve stem having registerin ports and said valve being normally held y the spring seated on the upper face of the head. 2. In a can filling machine; a tank, a cage in the tank having a-hub at its top-part, spaced arms to rigidly secure the hub to the cage at the center of the latter, a hollow air venting stem rigidly secured to the hub and extending below the tank, a valve having a stem slidable in the cage below the hub thereof, a headonthe venting stem having a seat for said valve, an abutment on the venting stem, a follower formed to against the upper end of the valve stem, and a spring on the venting stem engaged with said follower and abutment.

3. In scan straddle said filling machine, a tank, a cage rigidly secure said stem to szlid i-ngv with gaging aid abutment and seating on said 10 the ends of tho slom xtvnding :dmw and l'uHowi-r.

lwlmv the rvspm-livv (-ngoynds. head on the In rvsiimuny 'iHlOQf I have hereunto set siom. n \uh'v having a stem filidilhit in the my hand in thv piusonvc of two subscribing 'ngv and smiling my said Mad. :1 fnllmwi- \\'itncs.- i-. f surrounding sa d Venting stem and waiting EARL L. PRICE.

on said valve Shank :m zdmtnwnt on 1110 updlmsms: p01 mid of the venting stvm, and :1 C01]. Lx-znxnum IFFERT, spring surmuvdmg the venting stem and en-' h'umnux P. STORER. 

